Would we pray with a greater expectancy if every time we prayed for healing it happened? Would our faith be stronger because our experiences could predict the outcome of our prayers? How would our expectancy be impacted if the prayers weren’t answered? Would the strength of our faith waiver if healing didn’t transpire?
I can remember when I was first saved a pastor asked if anyone needed healing. I’d never heard of any such thing before, and I had been struggling with tendonitis in my wrist for years. So I walked up, received prayer, and was healed. Just that simple! From then on I expected that each and every time someone prayed for healing they got it – that was until I prayed for my daughter, and she didn’t get healed.
When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in my track of praying for healing. I remember feeling like I had to beg God for Him to do something, in the end God healed my mom. Yet, for over 20 years, I’ve pleaded in prayer that I would be healed of depression, and I still wait. Nevertheless, when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I declared that God would heal Him, but I placed a disclaimer that if He didn’t I knew He’d walk me through that too, and God healed Tom. My list can go on and on of those I’ve prayed for that have or have not been healed.
The truth is, I haven’t found the answer to the age-old question as to why some are healed and others are not. However, what I have found is that I often don’t pray for healing based upon scripture. I pray for healing based upon what I’ve seen, and what I can make sense of. I don’t believe my prayers lack faith but I do believe they lack expectancy.
I believe when we pray in our own understanding, and by what we have and have not seen we pray based upon our experiences, which limits expectancy.
No matter our experiences, God desires that we always pray based upon the knowledge of scripture, and the authority of Jesus Christ. I’m convinced if my prayers were based strictly upon the authority of the word of God, I would never lack expectancy or confidence. I know that if I prayed simply based upon His word, I would never feel the need to beg, plead, or make disclaimers.
When we pray based upon the authority and knowledge of scripture we pray knowing…
That: We pray to a God who heals ALL our diseases. Psalm 103:3
That: If I am in Christ, I am one of Abraham’s heirs and entitled to their promises. Gal. 3:29
That: The heirs of Abraham were promised that God would take away their sickness and terrible diseases. Deut. 7:15
That: Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and if He healed while walking on this earth, then He will heal today. Heb. 13:8
That: When Jesus came on the scene He healed them ALL! Matt. 14:14
That: When Jesus was asked if it was His will to heal, He said I am willing! Mark 1:41
That: We (regular people) can lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Mark 16:15
That: If anyone among us is suffering we are to pray! James 5:13
That: We can come boldly to the throne of grace and ask what we are in need of! Heb. 4:16
That: My prayers have great POWER! James 5:16
That: The things that are impossible with man are possible with God. Luke 18:27
That: He is able to far exceed anything I ask. Eph. 3:20
Praying with expectancy doesn’t come from our life experiences, or God’s track record on our prayer card, but from the authority of the scriptures themselves.
The enemy wants to keep us praying in our own understanding and by our own experiences, so he can keep us praying ineffective and powerless prayers! However, God desires that we pray powerful, authoritative prayers that reveal His magnitude through signs and wonders! Acts 14:3
Now it’s your turn:
In praying for people what impression of God do we give off? A God who will heal His people or a God who might heal His people?
Oh boy. I have been processing this for, well, since you posted. As is often the case, I stumbled upon another blog posting about prayer, and it was in such a convoluted way, I know I was meant to. When I first read this, it made me uncomfortable, because how can we pray expectantly for something when we don’t know God’s intention? After sitting with it for a while, I’m less uncomfortable, but now have questions. And, perhaps I may answer them, even as I ask.
Here’s a thought that comes to me as I wonder whose prayers God didn’t answer in scripture. Do you know who I came up with? Jesus. “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 29:39 ESV The cup did not pass.
So, I guess there are two things going on, one of which I am woefully inadequate to address, and the other, I am probably also inadequate to address.
God answers prayer according to His will and our free will. I do believe there is authority in scripture, but I also believe there is a fullness of time we do not understand.
I agree, to beg plead and make disclaimers limits us. It certainly does not limit God. But the question is where do we place our expectancy? I believe in the fullness of time, God *will* heal His people. I believe today He *might* heal, and He might not. But I expect that He can. And I know that even as we walk with a thorn in our sides, He is still able to far exceed anything we ask.
I would love feed back, because I am still wondering if I even really understood what you are sharing. As I wrote in my last post, I am trying to see things as they are, rather than through my filters, but, I’ve got 40 years of layers here, so it’s no easy feat!
Cassandra,
I’m going to wait and see who responds before I respond. 🙂 Thanks for posting!